A YEAR on from the closure of the Post Office in Weston’s Boulevard a new store has been confirmed, providing a ‘vital lifeline’ for the town.

The Spar shop in High Street is set to undergo a transformation to include a new Post Office counter, just in time for Christmas.

Mark Canniford, who runs the Spar store, said: “It is going to make a huge difference for Weston, but I think it will also make a huge difference to Grove Village, which has been lacking a central focal point.

“This will make it the primary point of Weston, back to what it used to be 100 years ago.”

The new Post Office is due to open on December 11, and will operate seven days a week, from 7am-10pm Monday to Saturday and 6.30am-10pm on Sunday.

Mr Canniford, who is a councillor for North Somerset Council, said: “Without being derogatory, the Regent Street store isn’t up to the standard it should be, and people don’t actually like using it.”

He highlighted how the store’s extended opening hours will benefit customers, and said: “People can pick up their pensions at 7.30am if they want to and people can bank on the way home from work. We will be able to help small businesses.”

Mr Canniford has hired David Griffin to manage the Post Office, and work is set to begin any day now.

Mr Canniford said: “I think it’s going to make a huge difference, particularly for those from Hillside. I think that people all the way from near Ashcombe Park, right through to Birnbeck Pier haven’t had a service for 12 months now.”

John Penrose MP had been contacted by many residents who were concerned by the previous post office closure.

He said: “Post Office branches provide a vital lifeline to many local communities, particularly to older and disabled people and to those who can’t travel easily, so everyone was worried when we heard the Boulevard branch was closing.

“It’s taken a while to get the new branch open, but the good news is that it’ll be better and more convenient than it was before.”